This Complex Spice Is Just What Your Banana Smoothies Need

Busy mornings and post-workouts are often accompanied by the familiar presence of banana smoothies. Sipping on this creamy, nutritious drink, it's almost impossible not to feel instantly rejuvenated. Without even noticing, you've probably made it a routine, something to brighten up the day just a little bit. Doesn't it get boring after a while? Not with the many additions you can use to upgrade banana smoothies, especially cardamom. Savory dishes, desserts, lattes, and now smoothies — there really isn't much this complex spice can't handle.

Cardamom is no stranger to Indian and Middle-Eastern cuisines, where it's known to bring a distinctive spiced depth to beloved dishes. More than just a kick of warmth, it carries sweet, piney, and peppery notes that unfold beautifully the moment they meet your palate. What sounds like such a contrast to the banana's creamy richness turns out to be more and more captivating after each sip. Your banana smoothie is no longer just flat-out sweet with nothing else to offer; instead, it's laced with a subtle aroma and intricate nuances, a gentle reminder that banana smoothies don't have to be boring.

Since convenience is a crucial element in making banana smoothies, ground cardamom is your best bet, even better if it's freshly ground for a more-pronounced flavor. However, it can get bold and borderline bitter in large amounts, so start with a minimum of ¼ to ½ teaspoon for one banana and adjust as you blend and taste. If you're using cardamom seeds, gather them from about two pods.

And what about other ingredients? There's still room thanks to the smoothie's mellow base. Cardamom's frequent companions are a good place to start. A tahini smoothie with cardamom and dates isn't something you come across every day, but you might want to once you taste the harmonized swirl of sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors. Ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and various other spices you use for smoothies are all fantastic choices when you want even more warmth. Even just a pinch of salt, when combined with cardamom, can give your smoothies the savory edge you never knew it needed.

There are other conventional approaches that can also use a cardamom twist. After all, why settle for the same thing over and over again when you can have the cardamom dancing in a banana matcha smoothie? Or perhaps a rich, chocolatey banana smoothie that borrows its richness from cacao nibs? Nuts of all varieties — walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and more — are foolproof for any recipe. Leafy greens and their earthy tones also make a phenomenal pairing with the cardamom's depth, and even more excellent when they're backed by a citrusy squeeze of lime juice.